Neptune Man Arrested For Asbury Park Shootings

FREEHOLD – A man has been arrested in connection with the shooting of two people on October 15, 2018 in Asbury Park, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Marcus Paschal, 19, of Neptune, is charged with two counts of first degree Attempted Murder, second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, in connection with the shooting of 18-year old Xavier Harbison and a juvenile male, both of Asbury Park. The shootings took place inside the Asbury Park Gardens (formerly known as Stephen Manor) residential housing complex.

On October 15, 2018, at 9:08 p.m. the Asbury Park Police responded to a call for shots fired in the area of 1100 Atlantic Avenue on October 15, 2018, at 9:08 p.m. Upon arrival, officers located a juvenile victim suffering from a single gunshot injury to his side. The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment. Shortly thereafter, another victim, Xavier Harbison, was admitted at the same hospital seeking treatment for a single gunshot injury to his left hand.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Asbury Park Police Department began, which led to the identification of Marcus Paschal as the individual responsible for the shootings. Paschal was then arrested yesterday without incident and charged with the shooting.

Xavier Harbison was treated and released from the hospital, while the juvenile sustained a spinal cord injury and the lower half of his body remains paralyzed.

The investigation is being led by Detective Brian Weisbrot of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Detective Thomas Gogan of the Asbury Park Police Department. Anyone with additional information about this shooting is urged to call Detective Weisbrot at 1-800-533-7443 or Detective Gogan at 732-774-1300.

If convicted of Attempted Murder, Paschal faces 20 years, on each charge, in a New Jersey state prison without parole. The Attempted Murder charges are subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.

If convicted of the second degree weapons offenses, Paschal faces a sentence of up to ten years in prison on each charge.

Paschal is scheduled to have his First Appearance and Detention hearing on November 5, 2018, before Judge Ellen Torregrossa-O’Connor, where he will be formally presented with his charges.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Bogner.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.